My thoughts on the Phillies season.

Post No. 800: Phils lose close one thanks in part to a bad call by the first base ump, as they drop one to the Astros, 3-2.

Thanks in part to a bad call by the first base umpire, the Phils drop a close one to the Astros as former Phil Brett Myers come back to stifle his ex-teammates, 3-2.

The Astros took the lead in the first as, with runners on the corners, and with nobody out, Hunter Pence hits a sacrifice fly, scoring Michael Bourn, who had earlier singled, stole second base and then moved up to third on Angel Sanchez’s single, giving the Astros a 1-0 lead, while sending Sanchez, who had just singled, on to second base. The Astros then tried to increase their lead as Sanchez tried to score on Carlos Lee’s double, but was instead gun down at home plate, 8-4-2, for the inning’s second out. The Phils tied it up at one-all in the third as Carlos Ruiz hits a lead-off home run, his sixth home run of the year. The Phils then took the lead later in the inning as, with two men on, and with one man out, Chase Utley hits an RBI single, knocking in Jimmy Rollins, who had earlier singled, before moving up to second on Lee’s fielding error, moved up to third on a fielder’s choice grounder hit by Shane Victorino, as Joe Blanton, who had earlier singled, and had gone to third on Rollins’ single, is thrown out at home, 3-2, giving the Phils’ a 2-1 lead, while Victorino, who was safe at first on the fielder’s choice, moved up to second base. The Phils tried to add to their lead in the sixth as, with a runner on second, Jayson Werth, via a double, and with two men out, after Raul Ibanez had just struck out, swinging, the Astros proceeded to intentionally walk Ruiz, to get to Wilson Valdez, but, after ball four is thrown, Astros catcher Humberto Quintero threw a strike to second base, picking off Werth, 2-6, who’s mind appeared to have been somewhere else, to end the inning. This base running blunder might have come back to haunt the Phils, as, in the eighth, with two men on, and with two men out, the Astros took the lead as Lee hits a two-run single, scoring pinch hitter Jason Michaels, who had earlier singled, had moved up to second on Bourn’s bunt single, and moved to third on Sanchez’s sacrifice bunt, 5-4, and Bourn, who had gotten on base with a bunt single, when he had in fact went out of the base line to avoid being tagged by Ryan Howard, but was called safe by the first base umpire, which lead to a long argument by Charlie Manuel before he was ejected from the game for arguing the call, and then went to second on Sanchez’s bunt, giving the Astros a 3-2 lead. That would end up being the final score as Brandon Lyon put down the Phils in the ninth for his seventh save of the season.

Joe Blanton receives a no-decision as he pitches seven strong innings, giving up just one run on six hits, while striking out nine. Ryan Madson records his fourth blown save of the year before taking the lost as he pitches an inning, giving up two runs on three hits, while striking out a batter. His record is now 4-2 with a 3.58 ERA. Brad Lidge pitches a scoreless inning, giving up a hit, while he strikes out one. Brett Myers gets the win as he pitches seven inning, giving up two runs on nine hits and a walk, while striking out nine. His record is now 9-7 with a 3.08 ERA. Tim Byrdak collects his sixth hold of the year as he pitches a scoreless inning, giving up a hit. Brandon Lyon receives his seventh save of the year as he pitches a scoreless inning, giving up a walk.

The Phils had ten hits in the game, with Jimmy Rollins and Jayson Werth both leading the team with two hits each, with Rollins’ two hits being singles, while Werth’s hits were a single and a double. Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, Carlos Ruis, Wilson Valdez, Joe Blanton and pinch hitter Dom Brown had the other six Phils’ hits, all singles, except for Ruiz’s solo home run, with Utley knocking in the other Phil’s run. The offense did not get the much needed key hit last night.

The Phils (70-54, 2nd East) will continue their series with the Astros (55-69, 4th Central) with a night game tonight. The game will be played at Citizens Bank Park and will start at 7:05 pm Eastern. The Phils will send to the mound Cole Hamels (7-10, 3.51), who is coming off a lost to the Giants on August 19, as he went only five innings, giving up five runs on seven hits and a walk, while striking out only five, in the Phils’ 5-2 lost. In his last three starts, his record is 0-3, as he pitched twenty innings, giving up seven runs on eighteen hits and three walks, while striking out twenty-four. He will be hoping that the bats will finally give him some runs so that he can finally end his win-less streak. The Astros will counter with Bud Norris (6-7, 5.23), who is coming off a win over the Mets on August 19, as he pitched seven innings, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks, while striking out four, in the Astros’ 3-2 win. In his last three starts, his record is 2-0 with a no-decision, as he pitched twenty and two-thirds innings, giving up eight runs on fourteen hits and five walks, while striking out twenty-one. He will be going for his third win in a row. The Phils’ offense will be out to score runs for Hamels tonight.

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